Every year a Basque community steps up to host NABOs long-running program for youth--Udaleku (formerly "Music Camp").  For Summer '07 it was in San Francisco.  Here is an article provided us by Lisa Etchepare that tells us about that experience; Udaleku '08 will be in Buffalo, WY June 15-27!

Related links:    Udaleku group photos since 1990      Udaleku main page

In 1977, N.A.B.O. put on the first Music Camp.  Today, 30 years and a name change later, the Udaleku legacy lives on.  This year, seventy-two children form the United States, Europe, and Canada, gathered in San Francisco, one of the original locations of the 1977 music camp, to prove that while times change, an interest in Basque culture lives on.  San Francisco was proud to offer classes in dance, focusing on the styles of Lapurdi and Baxenafarroa, txistu, pelota, mus, culture, skills, and Euskara.  Camp took place at the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center, who donated both the location and meals to Udaleku.  It was a perfect setting, where large rooms could be used for classes and the Kantxa was available for ongoing Pilota.

Time out for a break

This year at Udaleku, we were fortunate enough to sport a very talented staff.  Employing a new, more hands on, method in Euskara, Idoya Urruty used the book The Girl Who Swam to Euskadi: Euskadiraino Igerian Joan Zen Neska by Mark Kurlansky as a means to make the Basque language more available to her students.  As an incentive to practice and remember what he or she learned in class, each student was given a copy of the book at the end of the two weeks.  The books were donated by the Center for Basque Studies and the Basque International Cultural Center. 

 
Learning on the fronton

In an effort to get children excited about pilota, pilotari Egoitz Amantegi was sent by the World Pilota Council to instruct.  He, Fred Alfaro, and John Falxa taught children the basics of the sport.  The pilota portion ended with a pilota and pala tournament.  Especially important about pilota is the fact that you can play on any wall – not just in a fronton.  This is something children can continue at home.

Learning activities

In dance, instructors Isabelle and Christian Larralde, Anne Marie Chiramberro, and Valerie Arrechea focused on teaching dances from the province of Baxenabarre and Lapurdi including Euskaldunak and Sorgin, Makil Txiki, and Quadrilles.  Several older participants were also taught a fandango that Christian choreographed himself. This was the beginning of a new system of dance instruction at Udaleku, where every region will be presenting dance from a different province. 

Dance instruction

In classic music camp tradition, card tables were broken out every spare minute as participants honed their skills for the traditional Udaleku mus tournament, organized by Danielle Espinal and aided by Erica Fosse.   For our last class, the participants of this year’s Udaleku were happy to once again have Fr. Marxel Tillous and Caroline Chiramberro to teach txistu.  The students learned songs ranging in difficulty from Oi Pello Pello, to Agur Jaunak, to the biribilketa Elizondo. 

Making friends

Additionally, this year at Udaleku we sought to expand what was taught in the culture aspect of the curriculum.  This included two cooking classes, one taught by Juan San Mames where participants learned how to make paella and one by Valerie Arrechea where students learned how to make Gateau Basque.  Students also attended lectures on subjects such as “Famous Basques”, and “The History of Carnival Dantza” which were given by Teresa Franzoia and Lisa Etchepare. 

Txistu lessons

Camp however, was not all classes and lectures.  Participants encountered a small slice of San Francisco and immigration history on their day trip to Angel Island, and pulled out their orange and black for a Giants baseball game against the San Diego Padres.  These outings were sponsored by the San Francisco Basque Club, Fresno Basque Club, and Basque Educational Organization.  Additionally, the days were broken up by trips to the park and to a local bowling alley. 

Not a bad city for a camp

“Udaleku is one of the best and longest running programs N.A.B.O. offers,” stated Valerie Arrechea, NABO Udaleku Chairman and this year’s organizer.  “Thousands of students have passed through the Udaleku program in the past 30 years, and it was interesting to see how many of those present at the final performance had participated in the past.  Interestingly, we had students this year who’s parents were participants in that first NABO Music Camp 30 years ago.”

Valerie Arrechea went on to explain, “Not only does Udaleku provide children an opportunity to learn new skills, but it establishes friendships and a network of acquaintances that will last well into the future.  It also allows out of town participants to meet and become part of the hosting community.  This year the San Francisco Basque community opened their homes and hosted 62 children from out of town.  Without the cooperation and help from our members, this would not have been such a successful camp.  We can not say enough thanks to the 23 families that took in children and volunteered on a daily basis. 

Mil Esker San Franciscoko Euskal Etxeko lagunak!”

Udaleku main page